<div>
  <p>
  </p>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved sleep apnea detection for the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Watch Ultra 2.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        The feature requires 10 nights of sleep tracking data over 30 days to assess the risk of sleep apnea. It will be available in the upcoming watchOS 11 release.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        The FDA classifies this as an &quot;over-the-counter device to assess risk of sleep apnea.&quot; Apple emphasizes that it is not a diagnostic tool but will prompt users to seek formal diagnoses from healthcare providers.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        <b>Analyst QuickTake: </b>
        Earlier this 
        <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33543">
          month
        </a>
        , Apple also received FDA approval for a software update that allows Apple's AirPods Pro 2 to function as over-the-counter hearing aids. With today&rsquo;s FDA&rsquo;s approval, Apple has taken another step toward its devices functioning in healthcare roles beyond traditional wearable technology capabilities. 
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/16/apple-watch-sleep-apnea-detection-gets-fda-approval/">
      TechCrunch
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/apple-receives-fda-clearance-sleep-apnea-and-hearing-aid-technology">
      MobiHealthNews
    </a>
  </p>
</div>


Digital Wellness

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>
 
 <p>The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given its approval for the detection of sleep apnea on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Watch Ultra 2.</p>
 <p>This feature needs sleep tracking data for 10 nights within a span of 30 days in order to evaluate the risk of sleep apnea. It will be included in the soon-to-be-released watchOS 11.</p>
 <p>For the FDA, this is considered an "over-the-counter device to assess risk of sleep apnea". Apple further stipulates that this feature is not a diagnostic tool, but will notify users to get an official diagnosis from health care professionals.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Earlier this <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/33543"> month </a> , Apple also received FDA approval for a software update that allows Apple's AirPods Pro 2 to function as over-the-counter hearing aids. With today’s FDA’s approval, Apple has taken another step toward its devices functioning in healthcare roles beyond traditional wearable technology capabilities.</p>

FDA approves Apple Watch sleep apnea detection feature

Disrupting the traditional financial system using blockchain

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 <p>Solayer, a protocol built on Solana, has introduced its governance token LAYER and set up the Solayer Foundation. The LAYER token operates as an SPL-2020 token that empowers holders to participate in governance decisions. Its distribution will be carried out in three stages, rounding up with Solayer Season 1. Eligible members will receive notifications via the Solayer dashboard to agree to the terms and conditions before getting their tokens.</p>
 <p>Moreover, the Solayer Foundation, an independent non-profit, has been established aiming to promote protocols that enhance scaling of the Solana virtual machine (SVM). The foundation will help in propelling the protocol's development, which has so far garnered USD 12 million in seed funding from notable investors such as Polychain Capital, Binance Labs, and Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko.</p> 
</div>

Solayer launches LAYER governance token and non-profit foundation

<div>
 <p>Plume Network, a layer-1 blockchain network for real-world asset (RWA) finance, has initiated a USD 25 million ecosystem fund. This fund is backed by investors like Galaxy Digital, Superscrypt, and Mechanism Capital and is designed to support early-stage RWAfi projects and real-world asset tokenization on its platform.</p>
 <p>The fund, known as the RWAfi Ecosystem Fund, will zero-in on five crucial areas: Innovative RWAfi product development, vertically integrated ecosystems, global accessibility and retail adoption, institutional integration, and cross-chain interoperability. Providing not only capital investment, the fund also offers strategic go-to-market support and guidance to projects that utilize Plume's network and infrastructure.</p>
 <p>A wide range of sectors are targeted by this initiative, such as private credit, insurance products, royalty assets, infrastructure projects, AI/GPU resources, capital infrastructure, investment funds, and collectibles. The fund is currently going through applications from pre-seed and seed-stage founders operating in RWA and DeFi.</p>
</div>

Plume Network launches USD 25 million real-world asset (RWA) ecosystem fund

Empowering Tomorrow's Innovations with Generative AI Infrastructure

Generative AI Infrastructure

<div>
 <p>Exabits, a compute-based layer platform, has integrated 4,000 NVIDIA H200 GPUs into its network, expanding its operations across the US and Europe. The company, valued at USD 150 million and with USD 10 million in annual recurring revenue, aims to transform GPU clusters into investment assets.</p>
 <p>The new GPU infrastructure features a unique Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) and a 3.2 trillion InfiniBand architecture. This advanced system ensures secure and verifiable AI computations while maintaining data integrity and confidentiality. It is particularly designed for sectors dealing with sensitive data such as healthcare and financial transactions.</p>
 <p>With this integration, Exabits positions itself as the only player in the crypto space with in-house capabilities to manage and scale a 4,000 GPU H200 architecture. The system is built with a focus on serving demanding enterprise clients from autonomous driving, healthcare, and financial modeling sectors. It also aims to support innovations in DeSci and AI agent communities.</p>

</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Other notable initiatives to scale GPU capacity for LLM training include CoreWeave's <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/37006"> partnership </a> with Cohere to build a multi-billion-dollar AI data center in Canada and xAI's planned <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/37005"> expansion </a> of Colossus supercomputer in Memphis. Meanwhile, companies also raised funding to expand data center capacity for GenAI workloads (Nebius AI <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/36720"> raised </a> USD 700 million, Crusoe <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/37588"> raised </a> USD 600 million, and Nscale <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/37002"> raised </a> USD 155 million).</p>

Exabits integrates NVIDIA H200 GPUs for AI computations

Using online platforms, autonomy, electric and fuel-cell tech solutions to shape the future of trucking.

Truck Industry Tech

<div>
 <p>Torc Robotics and Aeva have enhanced their collaboration to further the development of autonomous trucks. Torc Robotics, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck specializing in self-driving technology, and Aeva, a company focused on sensing and perception systems, are combining their expertise in this venture.</p>
 <p>The expanded partnership calls for data sharing from 4D LiDAR sensing and utilization of a Freightliner Cascadia vehicle platform for long-range sensing applications. This progress builds on a previous agreement where Daimler Truck chose Aeva to supply its long and ultra-long-range LiDAR for autonomous commercial vehicles. The goal is to commercialize these autonomous vehicles by 2027.</p>
 
</div>

Torc and Aeva expand partnership to advance autonomous truck development

Conservation Tech

<div>
 
 <p>Agricultural supply chain SaaS startup based in Finland, Orijin, has received seed funding from Brainforest and Gorilla Capital, of an undisclosed sum. </p>
 <p>According to the company, this financing will be allocated towards technology advancement, global expansion, and providing sustainable solutions for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses. </p>
 <p>Orijin's platform offers features such as deforestation monitoring and real-time product origin verification, specifically for coffee and cocoa supply chains. These services ensure alignement with the EU Deforestation Regulation. </p>
 
</div>

Orijin raises seed funding for product development and expansion

Sustainably solving the food shortages of the future

Smart Farming

<div>
 
 <p>Orijin, an agricultural supply chain SaaS startup based in Finland, has received seed funding from Brainforest and Gorilla Capital. The amount of funding remains undisclosed.</p>
 <p>This financing will be directed towards technological enhancement, global expansion, and providing sustainable solutions to smallholder farmers and agribusinesses.</p>
 <p>Orijin's platform offers features such as deforestation monitoring and product origin verification in real-time for coffee and cocoa supply chains. This ensures compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation.</p>
 
</div>

Foundation Models

<div>
 
 <p>AI search engine Perplexity AI has started using OpenAI's o1 model in its Pro subscription tier.</p>
 <p>The o1 model is designed for reasoning tasks like solving puzzles, coding, and complex mathematical problems. The platform also supports other models such as GPT-4o and Claude 3 Sonnet/Opus.</p>
 <p>Perplexity is working on new homepage widgets to combine information from its Discover feed, weather updates, and stock prices. These widgets are part of their plan to build an AI-powered homepage for the internet, offering users a central hub for personalized information.</p>
 
</div>

Perplexity adds OpenAI o1 model and develops homepage widgets

<div>
 <p>Nikola, a manufacturer of electric and hydrogen trucks, has joined forces with WattEV, a company offering heavy-duty truck charging and electric Trucks-as-a-Service (TaaS). The collaboration involves the sale of 22 fully battery electric trucks.</p>
 <p>The transaction was made possible through Nikola's dealer Next Generation Trucks, following WattEV's prior purchase of 14 electric vehicles in 2023. This collaboration is set to help Nikola achieve its yearly delivery target of 300-350 trucks.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Nikola’s other BEV customers include <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/11001"> Walmart </a> <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/14210"> , </a> <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/20702"> J.B. Hunt, </a> and <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/17991"> Alberta Motor Transport Association </a> .</p>

Nikola partners with WattEV to supply 22 BEVs

AI, robotics, and IoT to streamline the flow of goods and information

Logistics Tech

<div>
 <p>Data capture and digital solutions provider, Zebra Technologies, is set to acquire Photoneo, a company specialized in robotic vision sensors and intelligence software. The financial details of the acquisition have yet to be disclosed.</p>
 <p>Photoneo strengths lie in their 3D vision and AI robotics systems, which are certified to integrate seamlessly with major robotic manufacturers globally, particularly in robot-arm applications.</p>
 <p>Post-acquisition, Photoneo Brightpick Group will continue operations under a new name, Brightpick, with primary focus on warehouse robots. The acquisition deal is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2025.</p>
 
</div>

Zebra Technologies to acquire Photoneo from Photoneo Brightpick Group for undisclosed sum

The toolkit to build machine learning applications at scale

Machine Learning Infrastructure

<div>
 <p>Scope Technologies, a company specialising in quantum security and machine learning, has announced a private placement increase to CAD 1.8 million (~USD 1.3 million), offering 1,285,714 units at CAD 1.40 (~USD 1) per unit. </p>
 <p>The funds will be utilised to expand the company’s team and support its general operations. </p>
 <p>Scope Technologies provides two products, GEM and QSE. GEM is an AI-powered visual recognition platform designed specifically for businesses. It boasts custom neural networks that are tailored for tasks like image detection and behavioural analysis. On the other hand, QSE is a product that focuses on data security. It uses quantum-proof encryption with an entropy-based key generation to effectively protect against both current and future security threats. In addition, it features decentralized cloud storage for immutable and secure data protection, safeguarding against ransomware attacks.</p>
 
</div>

All updates

FDA approves Apple Watch sleep apnea detection feature

Solayer launches LAYER governance token and non-profit foundation

Plume Network launches USD 25 million real-world asset (RWA) ecosystem fund

Exabits integrates NVIDIA H200 GPUs for AI computations

Torc and Aeva expand partnership to advance autonomous truck development

Orijin raises seed funding for product development and expansion

Orijin raises seed funding for product development and expansion

Perplexity adds OpenAI o1 model and develops homepage widgets

Nikola partners with WattEV to supply 22 BEVs

Zebra Technologies to acquire Photoneo from Photoneo Brightpick Group for undisclosed sum

Scope Technologies increases private placement offering to CAD 1.8 million

Digital Wellness

FDA approves Apple Watch sleep apnea detection feature

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